Roland Meulenbroek and his wife Margot had to blink twice. Dozens of Dodge RAMs drove into the street on Saturday afternoon to cheer the owner of a car shop. A few weeks ago, a fire broke out in his business in Nuland. Dozens of cars were damaged as a result.
The idea of driving dozens of well-built American pickup trucks honking through the street came from Maurice Grandiek. Grandiek has been a customer of Meulenbroek for years and wanted to do something after he heard about the fire.
“I felt I had to do something because this is really Roland and Margot’s life’s work,” he explains. “People who drive these cars don’t do it for fun, but because they like it and really enjoy it.”
The fact that this dealer was the victim of arson touches him even more. “I just really wanted to do something and that’s why I approached the Dodge RAM Ride Out Netherlands.” That is a group of enthusiasts of these cars, who selflessly organize a so-called ‘ride out’. They then drive the cars past people who could use a helping hand.
From all over the Netherlands
The participants in the ‘ride out’ come from all over the Netherlands. “We left Hoorn this morning with five cars and we knew we were going to gather in Heesch,” says one of the participants. He also thought it was important to put a heart to the entrepreneur.
It was a special moment for Meulenbroek. “I didn’t expect this, no. An emotional and beautiful moment. I’m actually speechless.”
The owner of Millbrook’s USA Cars did not consider for a moment to stop the business after the fire. “That same afternoon we already decided that we would continue with the company.” The fact that all these people sympathize with him helps enormously. Colleagues and some of his customers also ride along. “This is what you do it for, hey, running such a business.”
Saved cars myself
On August 15, a fire broke out at night at the shop on the Ambachtsstraat in Nuland. Meulenbroek himself was able to bring a number of cars to safety while cars were on fire further on. One of the cars was defaced with the symbol of the environmental group Extinction Rebellion. That organization denies any involvement and thinks that others want to put it in a bad light.